Preview: Yankees vs Red Sox (9/6/13)

After dropping the first game of a very important four, Andy Pettitte (10-9, 4.01 ERA) will try and get the Yanks back on track against Felix Doubront (10-6, 3.89 ERA.) Pettitte will look to continue building on his recent success against Boston. The veteran lefty has allowed six runs over his last 25 2/3 innings, including a win against the Red Sox where he gave up three unearned runs over 6 2/3.

Doubront will try to shake off his last outing, when he went just 3 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits and four runs. Doubront is 5-2 with a 3.82 ERA on the road this season

These four games against the Sox are crucial, considering it is their last time facing their rivals at home this season. They’re now nine games behind the Red Sox, however, they remain very much in the AL Wild Card hunt. Every game is important for the Yankees from here on outm, especially against the leader of the pack. “I think it means probably more to us, because of where we are in the standings,” Joe Girardi said. “They’ve got a little bit of a cushion here with some of the troubles the other teams have had. But it means a lot to us, and if you’re in their shoes, you’re fighting for home field advantage. So these games are important to them.”

Girardi said before Thursday’s game he didn’t know if Mariano Rivera would be available to pitch. It’s even more likely Rivera won’t be coming out of the pen for Friday’s game. He had pitched on back to back nights, throwing 13 pitches on Tuesday and 15 more during a four out save on Wednesday. When New York had the lead in the ninth yesterday, it was Rivera on the mound again, and it was one of the rare occasions when it didn’t go well. He blew the save, allowing the tying run in the ninth while throwing 19 pitches. It was his sixth blown save of the season, matching his most since six in 2003

Notes on the game.

The Red Sox now lead the season series with the Yankees, 8-5, with five games remaining. The Yankees won the season series 13-5 last year, their first advantage since 2007.